It’s overcast here, and cold; cold even in the office at the top of the house, usually sweltering from the obstinate, hot old iron range against the south wall. I’m listening to Mica Levi’s score to Under the Skin (one of the inspirations for parts of the Marlon score), and drinking Pu-Erh tea, brewed in the traditional Chinese fashion. It tastes earthy and clean, and drinking it makes me feel calm in a way I haven’t felt in a while. Centered is a good word.

Brewing Pu-Erh traditionally is an interesting experience: the whole process takes an hour or two, total, and involves brewing twelve cups of tea, for only a few seconds at a time. I was surprised at how dark the first brew came out, a rich, clear red like well-aged pinot noir or vintage Bordeaux.

Today, I’m working on a film script I’ve been having some trouble with. It’s a high-concept arthouse film I’m fiddling around on with Mike O’Connell and Ryan Sitzberger (Marlon camera op and Marlon actor, respectively; passionate filmmakers both), and I’m meant to be a bit further along in the script than I am. The problem is, my characters don’t know what to say to each other...or, rather, they have too much to say, and it’s all coming out in a jumbled mess.

I haven’t had this sort of trouble in a while. That’s why I’ve started my morning writing with this journal. The cogs are rusty, and the clock isn’t ticking on time: one of the several dangers of spreading yourself too thinly across projects and mediums. Filmmaking is fun, and making music with my brother has been a core element of my life since I was thirteen, but writing is like a kitten: if you keep it locked in the back room and don’t feed it while you’re off doing fun things, it dies.

Or goes feral, eating the paint of the baseboards and hunting roaches in the eternal predawn gloaming of the light under the door.

Either way, it isn’t healthy when you get back around to it.

If I find some time this evening, I have a list of short stories I’d really like to write before the year is out. It’s a long list for a holiday month, but I think perhaps it’s time I let my keyboard sharpen its claws again.

-Max (November 24th, 2015)

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P.S. - Yes, yes, Marlon news forthcoming. I’m waiting until after a meeting this week to post an update. Hopefully some soundtrack stuff, and some artwork from my lovely, creative wife. The Q&F coffers have enough to get some T-Shirts made, as well, so hopefully we’ll have some merchandise to ring in the new year!